“Big data” that track the movements and routines of individuals has become a contentious topic following recent revelations on how the U.S. government has been keeping tabs on its citizens. Now, Japan’s national rail system has come under scrutiny for selling data on its passenger travel habits, as recorded on the popular integrated-circuit, or “IC,” pre-paid fare cards, without consent.

Japan’s largest railway company, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) admitted selling data on users of one such card–Suica–a month ago, apologizing at a news conference last week. Read More »

A U.S.-based blogger on SeattleWireless.net who says he owns a Leaf claims that the car’s telematic system automatically sends pinpoint data on the car’s location to any third-party RSS feed to which drivers subscribe. The Japanese automaker is “looking into the matter,” according to a company spokesman in Tokyo, who would not confirm or deny the claim.

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Japan Real Time is a newsy, concise guide to what works, what doesn’t and why in the one-time poster child for Asian development, as it struggles to keep pace with faster-growing neighbors while competing with Europe for Michelin-rated restaurants. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, the site provides an inside track on business, politics and lifestyle in Japan as it comes to terms with being overtaken by China as the world’s second-biggest economy. You can contact the editors at japanrealtime@wsj.com